Island Tiger Snakes and Natural Selection

Off the coast of Australia is the island state of Tasmania, and off the coast of that is Mount Chappell Island (also called Hummocky). It is uninhabited private property used for sheep grazing. Some critters live there, one of which is the extremely venomous tiger snake.

This snake gets its name from bands of color resembling a tiger, but there are color varieties. If you are uncertain about its identity, leave it alone — especially since that part of the world is chock full o' venomous things. Interestingly, that island tiger snake is a study in natural selection.

Tiger snake, iNaturalist / Max Tibby (PD), modified at PhotoFunia

Darwinists may be surprised that informed biblical creationists accept natural selection, and that it fits nicely with creationist models. Part of their confusion is from natural selection being a part of the evolutionary framework, but their adaptation by selection idea also requires mutations.

Many creationists postulate that the Creator frontloaded living things with diverse genetic information. This involves epigenetics, which switches genetic information on and off. In the case of the island tiger snakes, they grow longer and have bigger heads so they can eat their prey more effectively. These pass on their genetic information to their offspring. This is by design, not evolution.

Most people have not heard of Mount Chappell Island, also called Hummocky. This very small island is about 8 km (5 mi) off the coast of Australia’s island state, Tasmania. Hummocky is home to something rather special; a substantial population of the largest of Australia’s venomous tiger snakes. They are about twice as long as their relatives in other parts of the country and have much larger heads.

Okay, Tiger, you can read the rest at "Giant island snakes and biblical history."